Abstract:

Natural disasters have significant psychological and physical effects on people, but natural disasters, which can affect millions of people at the same time, do not cause the same reactions in everyone. Rumination and post-traumatic stress disorder, which are frequently seen after disasters, have many physiological effects ranging from increased cortisol levels to impaired endothelial function, release of inflammatory markers and increased blood pressure. Physical activity plays an important role in preventing the negative effects of rumination and posttraumatic stress disorder. Although the type or dose of exercise required for optimal results has not been established in the literature, it is emphasized that there should be continuity in order to maintain the positive results achieved with structured physical activity. Aerobic exercises (cycling, walking, swimming, etc.), yoga, stretching and strengthening exercises are among the most frequently used structured physical activities in the literature to reduce the effects of posttraumatic stress disorder and rumination. The duration of the exercises varies between 2-12 weeks. In the context of increasing of evidence, this review presents recommendations for structured physical activity that can be applied in the post-disaster period.

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